2. amps-preamps
  3. 1360263245

Who makes the highest quality tube gear?

One scale of 1-10, 10 being best designed and constructed technically, personal sound preferences aside, who are the 8s, 9s, and 10s?

VAC, ARC, Atmasphere would seem like likely candidates I can think of. Are they ?

Where does Decware rank? Rogue? How about others?

SOme technical facts to help support any claims is appreciated please.

Durability and reliability matters to me here as much as anything. I would want my tube gear to continue to work as reliably as designed years down the road as well as up front.

THanks.

Thanks.
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xmapman
isochronism
1,447 posts
 
Mapman's first post specified Amplifiers.
This post is open to other tube equipment.
I vote for Doshi Preamps. And how about those tube driven ICs??
rbrowne
173 posts
 
For what it's worth, I used an Audio Note M1 pre-amp and P2SE amp for 15 and 16 years respectively with absolutely no problems regarding reliability. I never had an issue with either one. I no longer have them, but the new owners haven't reported any problems with either one to me.
calloway
816 posts
 
...Chalice Audio ..maker of the 'Grail' SET monoblocks...are certainly in a handful of SET's that can be called...if there is such a thing...the best..i have heard the Audio Note...Lamm refs..and most of the other great SETs and the Grails do everything better then any of the others to my ears.
tom_hankins
850 posts
 
For a combination of sonics, reliability, and customer service, also tube life is extremely long. BAT has worked for me for years. On sonics alone (I've heard but not owned) I really like the VAC products too.
violin
120 posts
 
Try Herron Audio. Great quality, Great sound.
More to discover